On December 19, a boat heading from West Africa to Spain collapsed off Morocco, killing at least 69 persons, including 25 Malian nationals, according to Malian authorities.

The improvised boat was carrying approximately 80 people when it capsized. Only 11 people escaped, the Ministry of Malians Abroad announced in a statement on Thursday, after gathering information to recreate the tragedy.

A crisis squad has been established to monitor the situation and report any additional developments, it added.

The Atlantic migration route from the coast of West Africa to the Canary Islands, which is generally used by African migrants attempting to reach Spain, has experienced an increase this year.

Years of conflict in the Sahel area, which includes Mali, unemployment, and the impact of climate change on farming communities are among reasons why people make the crossing.

The path, which runs along the Atlantic beaches of Mauritania and Morocco before arriving in Spain, is one of the deadliest in the world.

In June, migration rights organization Walking Borders reported that about 5,000 migrants died at sea in the first five months of 2024 while attempting to reach the Spanish archipelago.